Chapter 4

Bianca returned with food. "Wyatt will have you killed, soon."

"I've been thinking," Leo began. "This will be too much for Chris."

"What do you mean?"

"He shouldn't do it," Leo answered.

"Why not?"

"It's too risky. He can do a lot behind Wyatt's back in his current position. If he time travels, he's going to out himself."

"He's going back to change the present. It doesn't matter what Wyatt finds out."

"But what if Chris fails? What if Wyatt goes back to get him?"

"Chris is willing to accept the consequences, if there are any."

"That's a big 'if.'"

"No, it's not."

"I don't want him to take the chance and I don't want him to be around his family anonymously."

"It won't be like that," Bianca countered.

"He's not going to be a part of the family. Can you imagine what that will be like? He'll finally be reunited with his mother and his aunts, but they won't treat him like part of the family. Do you realize how much that's going to hurt him?"

"I don't have to. Chris is already expecting it. He's willing to do it."

"Listen," Leo began.

"Did you hear what I said? When I first arrived?"

"Yeah, Wyatt's going to kill me. Is Chris going to step in?"

"Do you want him too?"

"No. Does he want to?"

"He doesn't need to if he goes back to the past."

"That's not what I asked," Leo said.

"Of course he wants to intervene," replied Bianca. "He might hate you, but he doesn't want you dead. How could you doubt him like that?"

"So what is he going to do?"

"Go back to the past, now to save you as well."

"Then why did you tell me that?"

"We're pretty sure you'll be dead before he succeeds. He wanted you to be prepared."

Leo paused for a few seconds. "I'm not surprised."

"Are you angry? Sad?"

"I'm just disappointed," Leo answered.

Bianca sensed someone appear behind her.

"When is this going to happen?" Leo asked.

"I don't know," Bianca answered.

"Now," said Chris. "Wyatt sent me here to get you. He thought I'd enjoy this."

"Chris," Leo barely let out. "It's been a while."

"Yeah," Chris responded.

"How could you join him, Chris?"

"Seriously?" Chris questioned. "This is the first time you've talked to me in years and you want to criticize me?"

"No, but Bianca said you weren't evil. She said you were trying to change things and we're formulating a plan. Both of us. Now that you're here, I'm just trying to reconcile everything in my head, Chris, because I do believe. I do. I just wanted to understand."

Bianca watched Chris as the latter let seconds pass without an answer.

"I couldn't oppose him," Chris finally said. "I didn't have the power to do that, but if I joined him, I'd be able to keep him in check. I could even sabotage some of his bigger plans."

"Chris is known around here for his mercy when he leads raids," Bianca added. "He's also been transporting people to safety. He's saved a lot of people."

"You don't have to go back to the past, Chris," advised Leo. "There has to be another way to fix this without putting yourself through all the pain you'll feel."

Chris shook his dead. "I already feel that every time I think about our family, or walk through the museum that used to be home, or think about everyone who died. This is the right thing to do."

"Is . . . anyone left from the family?" Leo asked.

"Uncle Henry was, the last time I checked. Wyatt didn't care too much about him since he's a mortal. I lost track of him a while ago."

"What have you done to look for him?"

"Nothing. Anonymity protects him. I want him to stay protected."

A demon shimmered in.

"My Duke."

"We'll be there soon," said Chris. "Go away."

The demon complied while Chris unlocked the door and Leo stepped out.

"Stick with Wyatt's script," Leo advised. "Just let him kill me. Don't give him any reason to doubt you."

Chris nodded.

"I'm sorry I wasn't a better father."

"Maybe I'll get to fix that in the past, too."

Chris orbed Leo to a courtyard, where Wyatt stood with a small crowd. Chris walked away from Leo towards Wyatt and began to orb.

"Not staying?" Wyatt asked.

Chris shook his head and orbed to his suite, where Bianca was waiting for him.

"You'll succeed, and then none of this will happen."

Chris hugged Bianca until he heard a blast outside. Then, he hugged Bianca more tightly.

Bianca kept her grip on Chris, letting Chris console himself with her for as long as he needed.

Thank you very much for reading. I hope this was okay.